Unity Amidst Diversity

Among the many memorable verses and stories from the first chapters of Genesis is God’s effort to find an “Eizer K’negdo” (literally, one who is over against him) for Adam. “He took one of his ribs. . .and the Lord God fashioned the rib that He had taken from the man into a woman; and He brought her to the man (Gen. 2:22-23).”

Mordechai Yosef Leiner, a 19th century eastern European Torah scholar, interpreted this verse in the following manner: “The desire of the Creator was that there should spring up for Adam a supporter and a helper who was opposite him, as in the relationship of a master and disciple.” Leiner is understood to mean that it is not a spouse that God seeks for Adam, instead someone who reflects an even higher kind of love, such as that shared by a teacher and student. What sort of relationship is that? Mordechai Leiner continued his discourse by describing a student who had only praise for his teacher and one who argued each point his teacher raised. In the former case, the teacher responded to his student’s lavish praise by stating, “it is not from your praise that we both can grow but from your critique.” Adam was not seeking a companion who would support his every thought and action, but one whose challenges would help both develop. Leiner concludes his remarks by writing, “And this is the decree of all creation: specifically, that controversy creates unity.”

Argument and debate are fundamental to the healthy growth of an individual, and an absolute requirement in a democracy. Good ideas must be able to withstand the scrutiny of well-intentioned challenges. The one absolute necessity for healthy debate is the presence of a “teacher/disciple” relationship. When a teacher challenges a student, or a student argues with a teacher, the unseen force standing between them is love and respect for one another. In its absence, the interaction becomes subject to insult, innuendo, and enmity.

If only our politicians, on either side of the political aisle, could let go of their pretense of truth and righteousness long enough to see each other-Republican or Democrat, Black or White, Jew or Christian or Muslim-as all fashioned in the image of the same God; all deserving of the love and respect accorded to the crown of God’s creation: humankind. We will continue to argue, continue to debate, but do so with a common purpose and an appreciation for one another.